U.S. industrial production edged higher in July

By Moriah Costa WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. industrial production edged higher in July, as production of auto parts and motor vehicles jumped 10.1 percent, according to data released by the Federal Reserve on Friday. Industrial production rose 0.4 percent, which was unchanged from June. The June increase was previously reported at 0.2 percent. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast industrial output rising 0.3 percent. Manufacturing output rose 1.0 percent, in what the Fed said was the largest increase since February. Economists expected a rise of 0.4 percent. Production at mines moved up 0.3 percent, the ninth consecutive monthly increase. Utility output fell 3.4 percent due to mild July weather that cut demand for air conditioning. (Reporting by Moriah Costa; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)